By Enaziegbe Esther
Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, the Governor of Lagos State, praised the founder of Chess in Slums and Nigerian Chess master, Tunde Onakoya, for setting a new 64-hour chess marathon record.
The chess marathon, which took place at the iconic Times Square in New York City, commenced on Wednesday, April 17, and ended on Sunday, April 20. Today, April 21, 2025, a statement was published on X (formerly Twitter) conveying the congratulatory message of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu as he celebrated Tunde Onakoya’s feat—not just as a personal achievement, but as a collective one and a moment of pride for Lagos and the entire nation of Nigeria.
While congratulating the chess master, Sanwo-Olu also gave a special shout-out to Ferdinand, a young chess enthusiast he had recently encountered, whose strong determination and calculative thinking left a lasting impression on him.
The governor used the same medium to acknowledge the achievements of children from the #ChessInSlums initiative, as well as Jamiu Boluwatife, for winning the ICN Chess Championship, and other participants from the chess event during the 2025 United Nations Games in New York.
He wrote:
“Hearty congratulations to #Tunde_OD for achieving a remarkable milestone by setting a Guinness World Record for the longest chess marathon. This isn’t just a personal achievement but a proud moment for all of us. Tunde’s perseverance and commitment to the game truly inspire everyone around him, and this accomplishment highlights his incredible talent.”